Can-opener.



G. B. RIGG.

CAN OPENER.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV. so, 1908.

Patented 001;. 5, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLINTON B. RIGG, OF MOUNT STERLING, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOVVILLIAIVI B. RIGG, OF MOUNT STERLING, ILLINOIS.

CAN-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1909..

T 0 all whom it may concern:

I of which is sharpened or pointed as indicated Be it known that I,CLINTON B. Rico, a at 5.

citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Sterling, in the countyof Brown and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates the construc tion and arrangement of a canopener, the object of which is to provide an article prin cipallydesigned to secure the best results in operation, combined withsimplicity and economy in cost of production.

The invention comprises essentially a strip of metal of any desiredcross sectional formation looped at one extremity to form a handle orgrip, and at its opposite extremity with a pointed hooked portionprovided with a knife edge designed to cut the closure of a can or otherreceptacle upon proper manipulation.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof andalso to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and of themeans for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the opener illustrating the first orengaging position upon the receptacle; Fig. Qis a perspective view ofthe opener illustrating the cutting oroperative position upon thereceptacle; Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the opener andreceptacle; Fig. i is a side elevation of the opener; and, Fig. 5 is aperspective view of a modified form of opener hereinafter described.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a receptacle and 2 the endclosure thereof upon which the opener is designed to operate. In thepreferred construction of the opener a continuous strip of metal or wireof any desired formation in cross section is employed and deflectedintermediate its extremities to form a convolution or ring 3 whichconstitutes the handle or grip. At the opposite extremity of the openera cutting or operating member is formed by deflecting the metal at rightangles to the plane of the ring 8 to form a bill or hooked portion fit,the extremity The numeral 6 designates that portion of the metalintermediate the handle 3 and hooked portion at and may properly bereferred to as the shank. The metal strip or wire intermediate thehooked end i and shank 6 and constituting the curved portion 7, is t'ansversely reduced or sharpened at its inner side to form a knife orcutter 8, and the free end of the strip or wire emanating from theconvolution or ring 3 overlaps and partially surrounds the shank 6, as111- dicated at 9, and thence is extended at right angles to said shankto form a guide 10 designed to follow the periphery of the receptacle 1and direct the cutter 8 1n its cutting or operating movement, upon thereceptacle closure In Fig. 5 a modification of Fig. 4: is shown in whichthe ring 3 instead of being formed at right angles to the cutter orhooked end portion i is deflected in line with said outter and presentsa flat, neat construction which for commercial reasons would requireless space for shipment when secured to cans.

In the practical operation of the opener upon a receptacle or can of thecharacter illustrated, the shank G and hooked portion I in the first orengaging position illustrated in Fig. 1, are vertically disposed to thereceptacle and the pointed end 5 of the hooked portion is caused topierce the receptacle closure 2 by pressure exerted either upon the ring3 or upon the curved extremity 7. When the pointed end 5 has been forceda sufficient distance through the closure 2, the opener is twisted orturned to a horizontal position as illustrated in Fig. 2, and by drawingor pulling upon the ring 8 the closure 2 will be severed by the cuttingactlon of the knife or cutter 8. The guide 10 owing to the relativelyextended position upon the periphery of the receptacle Wlll direct theopener in its cutting operatlon upon the closure and retain the knife inspaced relation to the edge or periphery as will be understood.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be apparent that I have providedan improved andeconomically constructed opener for cans or similar sealed receptacles,and for commercial reasons may be advantageously dispensed withreceptacles containing food stuffs or other articles.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is A canopener constructed of a continuous piece comprising a shank formed atone eX- tremity with a ring or convolution of the piece designed as ahandle, a hooked portion formed at the opposite extremity of 10 saidshank and having its opposite sides beveled to provide a cutting edgeand a guide emanating from the ring and slightly deflected and designedto direct the cutting movement of the opener.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.OLIN TON B. RIGG. [n s.]

Witnesses JAMES E. ALLISON, ruman 13. Rise.

